Giving focus to the Cultural, Scientific and Social Dimension of EU - CELAC relations

WP2 - Methodology for Trans-Sectorial Events

This methodological guideline for trans-sectorial events provides a basis for the organization, the methodology and the instruments of EULAC Focus project events. The objectives are to foster the discussion, analysis and synthesis of the outcomes of the thematic pillars (WP 3, 4, 5) and at the same time assuring their contribution to the cross-cutting topics (WP 2) and the scenario-building process (WP 6). It emphasizes the trans-sectorial character of the EULAC Focus project as interdisciplinary, multi-institutional and international. Furthermore, it addresses the different actors involved in the project activities and their specific roles in contributing to reach the project aims. The overall objective of the events is to create a basis for managing disciplinary diversity in a productive way; building bridges and fostering exchange. Therefore, this methodology is supposed to guarantee maximum interaction, diversity and impact. Besides, it serves as a toolbox for organizing the upcoming EULAC Focus trans-sectorial events.

Why EULAC Focus trans-sectorial events?

The trans-sectorial events are the main joint activity and exchange forum of the EULAC Focus project. A total number of six EULAC Focus project workshops1 in Latin America and Europe are planned (see Table 1). Their objectives are to promote the cooperation between project partners and enhance the understanding within and between the different work packages, serve as a platform for exchange between the Trans-Sectorial Board members, facilitate awareness rising of the EULAC Focus project achievements, disseminating recommendations for actions and network with key stakeholders. Thus, the trans-sectorial workshops are the main instruments to bring all researchers of the project (and beyond) together to interact personally and have critical and multi-perspective discussions. Additionally, there are implemented project events that support the trans-sectorial idea and follow the same logic and methodology by focussing on specific aspects of the process described below. These events are among others the hot topic conferences (T. 6.3), scenario building events (T. 6.2) and monthly virtual Project Management Conferences (T. 1.1).

The trans-sectorial workshops foreseen in the project do not only promote the general aim of EULAC Focus, which consists of “giving focus” to the cultural, scientific and social dimension of EU-CELAC relations, they also can be considered as milestones of the whole project cycle. In order to ensure its success, the trans-sectorial workshops need to be adequately distributed in the period of implementation.

Table 1: Overview of the Project Workshops

Project event no.

Work Package

Date (Month)

Location

Focus

Components

1. (Kick-offMeeting)

7

3-4 April 2016 (Month 2)

Barcelona, Spain Organization: UB

Kick-off-Meeting of all project partners; setting up of the Trans-Sectorial Board; detailed definition of the crosscutting topics (WP2)

Kick-off-Meeting

2

2

28-31 August 2016 (Month 6)

Berlin, Germany Organization: DLR

Presentation of Work plans (design, thematic foci, methodology) of all thematic work packages.

Presentation of first results of the analysis of crosscutting topics (WP2)

Methodology for the Scenario building(WP6)

Public event: Focus on cross-cutting topic mobility and the scientific dimension